Niv Pencovici, M.D.

Fellowship years: 2021-2023
Current position: Transplant Surgeon, Sheba Medical Center, Israel
How did Mayo's mentorship model impact your training? It felt like all eight consultants of the abdominal transplant service were my mentors, and it was great.

Randi Ryan, M.D.

Fellowship years: 2021-2023
Current position: Transplant Surgeon, Canyon Surgical Associates, Murray, UT
What was most rewarding about your training? The process of evaluating a potential organ, accepting the organ, arranging the transplant, and then doing the transplant and caring for the patient postoperatively.

Peri Husen, M.D.

Fellowship years: 2020-2022
Current position: Transplant Surgeon, Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
What is something you love most about this program? I loved that we had an interdisciplinary approach to patient care. Not only did this benefit our patients, but gave each member of the team the opportunity to learn from each other. Above all, the level of professionalism and culture at Mayo Clinic was outstanding, and you saw it reflected in each level of patient care.

Nassir Thalji, M.B., Ch.B., Ph.D.

Fellowship years: 2020-2022
Current position: Transplant Surgeon, UT Health San Antonio
What is something you love most about this program? We had an amazing transplant team - from the surgeons, anesthesiologists, nephrologists, hepatologists, nurses, coordinators, OR team, and beyond. Everybody seemed to love their job and it made being at work so much more enjoyable - especially if it's 2 a.m.!

Philippe Paci, M.D., C.M., M.S.

Fellowship years: 2019-2021
Current position: Transplant Surgeon, Intermountain Transplant Clinic, UT
What attracted you to Mayo Clinic? The program at Mayo Clinic Rochester provides an excellent all-around exposure to abdominal transplant surgery. Furthermore, the sheer volume of living donor kidney transplants and living donor nephrectomies is unrivaled.

Lavanya Yohanathan, M.B.B.S.

Fellowship years: 2019-2021
Current position: Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Transplant Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI
What was most rewarding about your training? The most rewarding thing was the relationships you had in your training and the patients you met from across the world. Everyone has a unique background and history and it is truly a privilege to care for these patients and work with a superior team in all facets.

Mathew George, M.B.B.S., M.S.

Fellowship years: 2018-2020
Current position: Pediatric Transplant Surgeon, Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia
How did Mayo Clinic’s mentorship model impact your training? The program made sure that we were all trained in the best way of doing things. The techniques in transplant procurements for example are taught by the senior fellows as well as the attending surgeons before we are let out on our own. This ensures that we learn the correct methods. The attending surgeons are approachable at all times, and we could knock on their doors for advice and support. 

Nitin Abrol, M.B.B.S.

Fellowship years: 2017-2020
Current position: Transplant Surgery, Integris Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK
What was it like to live in Rochester? Living in Rochester for three years was very stress-free. It is a small city with all the amenities for family life and a good public school district for kids' education.

Ek Khoon Tan, M.B.B.S., M.Med., M.P.H.

Fellowship years: 2017-2019
Current position: Transplant Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
What attracted you to Mayo Clinic? The Mayo Clinic model of care was highly impressed upon me when I was a visiting medical student - and I firmly believed in the style in which patient care was delivered. This allows them to attract the best individuals from around the world to deliver high-quality care to patients. I wanted to match at Mayo Clinic to train with the best doctors and also learn how everyone worked together, as a hospital, to deliver this style of care.

During training, the aspect of the program I loved the most was the easy access to the faculty and staff. I appreciated greatly that I was able to talk to them anytime about patient care, research, or any matter at all.

Mohammed Shaheen, M.B.B.S.

Fellowship years: 2016-2019
Current position: Consultant, Hepatopancreaticobiliary and Transplant Surgery, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh; Deputy Program Director, Kidney Transplant Surgical Fellowship, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh
What was most rewarding about your training? I dealt with and learned from amazing physicians and surgeons who were internationally recognized for their knowledge and contributions to the specialty of organ transplantation.

Shennen Mao, M.D.

Fellowship years: 2016-2018
Current position: Transplant Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
What is something you loved about this program? The staff took a vested interest in my training and allowed me to progress at my pace rather than a predetermined schedule. The Mayo Clinic mentorship model allowed for direct engagement with leaders in the field of transplantation both in the clinical and research realms. I enjoyed engaging in research, education, and advocacy during my fellowship, which was possible due to strong mentorship relationships.

The most rewarding part of my training was developing graded independence in operative management and pre- and post-operative care of liver transplant recipients. At the end of my training, I was independent in performance of liver, kidney, and pancreas transplantation, living donor nephrectomy, and multivisceral procurement. I also had opportunities to educate residents and junior fellows. I completed my abdominal transplant fellowship ready for a career as an independent surgeon scientist.

Caroline Jadlowiec, M.D.

Fellowship years: 2015-2017
Current position: Transplant Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ
What was most rewarding about your training? The entire experience was fantastic. I had an amazing educational experience and left feeling very well-trained. I also made friendships that persist to this day.

Han Li, M.D.

Fellowship years: 2012-2015
Current position: Transplant Surgery, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA
Is there anything that surprised you at Mayo Clinic? The efficiency of the Mayo Clinic system and how everyone is proud to work at Mayo Clinic was impressive.